Physical Motion Device

ABSTRACT

A physical motion device having an upper surface and a lower surface that are separated by a fulcrum, the upper surface being a tilting and rotating surface that causes and/or enables a user who is sitting on the upper surface to engage in dynamic sitting.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to exercise and physical therapy devices, particularly devices that a user may sit on in order to engage various parts of the body while in a seated position.

Discussion of Prior Art

Conventional seating options are varied but limited, and most are known to allow for, or in many instances cause, static sitting. Static sitting increases stress along an individual's spine and increases muscle atrophy due to disuse. Static sitting options also miss an opportunity for a sitter to exercise or engage in physical therapy activities while sitting, which is, of course, an activity that many people engage in for long periods of time each day.

A person's spine normally has an S-shape, which helps absorb shock, maintain balance, and allows for body movement, and it moves in four ways: flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation. Groups of muscles support the spine in the front (flexor) and in the back (extensor). A person's vertebrae, which are designed to bear weight, withstand compression, protect the spinal cord, and provide attachments for muscle, tendons, and ligaments, are divided into regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx, with each vertebrae separated and cushioned by a disc.

The deficient movement patterns lead to core weakness, muscle strain, inflammation, and structural dysfunction. And, poor muscle tone and/or flexibility can cause spinal misalignment. Workers suffer back injuries every year that are caused by working in uncomfortable seated positions, standing, or sitting in one position to long. Dynamic movements help keep the spine healthy.

More specifically, destabilizing a person's seating surface allows the body to engage by continuous dynamic adjustments. This has the effect of increasing joint lubrication of the spine and flexibility in the discs, decreasing stiffness, improving circulation, strengthening core muscles, improving posture, stimulating leg muscles, improving pelvic mobility and reducing back strain.

What is needed, therefore, is a physical motion device that allows sitters to use their own body weight to offer resistance with movement, thereby allowing their bodies to exert themselves against gravity to avoid muscle atrophy due to disuse and improve physical fitness and abilities. What is further needed is such a physical motion device that is easily portable and may be used with conventional sitting surfaces.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a physical motion device that causes and/or enables a sitting user to engage in dynamic sitting. Dynamic sitting, also referred to as active sitting, engages core muscles and helps maintain posture, which in turn decreases discomfort and pain, by keeping the sitter in motion.

The physical motion device is relatively small and easily portable. It includes an upper platform that a user sits on and a lower platform that is placed on a traditional sitting surface such as a chair or bench. The upper and lower platforms are separated by a fulcrum that acts as an axis of rotation and allows the upper platform to rotate in the horizontal plane in a side-to-side manner and tilt or pivot in the vertical plane in an up and down manner, such that if a user shifts her weight to the right the upper surface will tilt downwards to the right while the left side will tilt upwards. The upper and lower platforms may also be connected by one or more tension members that provide resistance against the user's movement and/or help to secure either or both of the platforms in the proper position relative to the fulcrum.

In use, the user places the lower surface on his or her conventional seating surface, such as an office desk chair, and then sits on the upper surface while performing his or her normal tasks, such as office work. The device has a destabilizing effect on the person's seating surface and consequently allows the body to engage by encouraging and facilitating continuous dynamic adjustments. This causes the sitter to use his/her own body weight to offer resistance with movement, thereby allowing his/her body to exert itself against gravity to avoid muscle atrophy due to disuse and improve the person's physical fitness and abilities, all while sitting in place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. The drawings are not drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the first embodiment of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the device where the upper surface is tilted to one side.

FIG. 3A is a top view of the bottom surface.

FIG. 3B is a side perspective view of the support base.

FIG. 3C is a top view of the tension support member.

FIG. 3D is a side view of the rounded member.

FIG. 3E is a side view of the top surface with a cushion and a cover.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the device without the top surface or the tension support member.

FIG. 5 is a side view with the top tilted slightly to show the tension support member and without have a cushion attached to the top platform.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the device with the upper platform tilted to one side.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the device.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the fulcrum.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a third embodiment of the device.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the third embodiment illustrating a support barrier.

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the third embodiment of the fulcrum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention should not, however, be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a first embodiment of a physical motion device 100 according to the invention, including an upper surface 10 and a lower surface 20 that are separated by a fulcrum 30 and attached to one another by one or more tension support members 40. The fulcrum 30 is designed in a manner that allows the upper surface to pivot in the vertical plane in all directions, through 360 degrees, and also to rotate in the horizontal plane a side-to-side manner. To use the device 100 users sit on the upper surface 10, and as a result the upper surface is sized and shaped to accommodate the typical user, and is shown to be very similar in size and shape to the lower surface 20. The lower surface, while sized and shaped similar to the upper surface, is also of a suitable size and shape to be placed on top of conventional benches, chairs and other conventional seating devices. Cushions may be added for comfort, and may be affixed to the upper surface using conventional means such as staples S.

More specifically, the upper surface 10 is similar in size and shape to many conventional seats, likely having a firm and supportive lower side 12 that is attached to or supported by the fulcrum 30 and an upper side 14 that serves as the seating area that may include a cushion C. In the embodiment shown, the upper surface 10 is not fixedly attached to the fulcrum 30 but is fixedly attached to the tension support member 40, the tension support member 40 keeping the upper surface 10 in the proper position atop and against the fulcrum 30.

The lower surface 20 is sized and shaped to fit in or on a conventional sitting device, such as a chair, sofa, or bench. In the embodiment shown it is circular with a flat bottom surface, however, other shapes may be used to accommodate different styles of sitting devices.

The fulcrum 30 in this embodiment includes a support base 32 and a rounded member 34. The support base 32 is affixed to the lower surface 20 and extends outward around the rounded member 34 so as to limit how far the upper surface 10 may tilt or pivot in any one direction. Depending on the method of manufacturing, the support base 32 may also be formed as an integral part of the lower surface 20. The support base 32 may take a number of forms, and in FIGS. 1-5 its resembles a flange, similar to a plumbing or piping flange, such that a cylindrical portion surrounds the rounded member 34 and extends upward to a position near but still beneath the top of the rounded member 34 where a flange-like plate forms a rim around the top edge of the cylindrical member. The rounded member 34 is sufficiently strong and durable to support the weight of the user and is likely solid piece made of a hardened material such as wood, a form of metal, or a hardened plastic. Or, if it is not a solid piece made of a hardened material the exterior must have sufficient rigidity to support the user's weight without collapsing.

The rounded member 34 is flat on one end and rounded on the other. The flat end is fixed in position by being attached to either the lower surface 20 and/or the support base 32 and/or being formed as an integral component of the lower surface 20. The rounded member 34 is rounded on the opposite end and extends a relatively short distance above the support base 32; in the embodiment shown the rounded member 34 extends roughly one inch above the top of the support base and approximately 2 to 4 inches above the lower surface 20. The combination of the support base 32 and rounded member 34 allows a limited range of motion so as to prevent a user from over extending himself/herself.

The tension support member 40 is generally comprised of an elastic material, such as an elastic cord or a piece of rubber. The tensile strength of the cord may vary depending on the intended user, e.g. varying models could be made for people that are small, average, or large in size. The strength should be sufficient to prevent the upper surface from tilting too easily but also not be so strong as to prevent the top from tilting at all. There are many conventional cords, bands and/or straps that are sufficient for this purpose and one skilled in the art may choose from a great number of suitable options to select one with the desired properties and tensile strength. In the first embodiment, the tension support member 40 is affixed to both the lower surface 20 and upper surface 10 using conventional means. For example, opposite ends of the tension support member 40 may be inserted through openings in both surfaces and the secured in place by staples or other conventional fasteners.

The length of the tension support member 40 is sufficient to hold the upper surface in a relatively firm position atop the fulcrum and the elasticity in the support member allows a user to tilt or rotate. When tilting, the support member 40 simply bends and stretches in the direction of the user's weight. When rotating, the tension support member 40 twists in the direction of the user's movement.

FIGS. 6-9 illustrate a second embodiment of a physical motion device 100 according to the invention that also includes an upper surface 10 and a lower surface 20 that are separated by a fulcrum 30 and attached to one another by one or more tension support members 40. In this embodiment the upper and lower surfaces are similar to those in the first embodiment, however the fulcrum and tension supports are different.

Again the lower surface 20 is sized and shaped to fit in a conventional sitting device, such as a chair, sofa, or bench. In the embodiment shown it is circular with a flat bottom surface, however, other shapes may be used to accommodate different styles of sitting devices. The upper surface 10 is sized and shaped to serve as a seat or sitting area and may have a cushion C.

The fulcrum 30 is spherical and has a solid core and/or an exterior that is sufficiently rigid such that it does not bend or break under the weight of the user. The fulcrum 30 is positioned near the midpoint of the upper surface 10 and lower surface 20. The fulcrum 30 is secured in place by an elastic cord 40, best shown in FIG. 9, which not only helps to secure the fulcrum 30 to the upper surface 10 and lower surface 20 but is also tension support member 40.

The embodiment shown includes two additional tension support members 40, each affixed to the lower support in a first position 42 and a second position 44 and secured to the upper surface at a third position 46, the tension support members 40 generally forming the shape of a “V” with the fulcrum located in the center. More specifically, each cable 40 has two ends and a midpoint, the ends being secured to the lower surface 20 and the mid points being secured to the upper surface 10. More or fewer tension support members may be used. As with the first embodiment, numerous elastic cords may be used as the tension support members, such as, for example, conventional bungee cords. These additional support members may lessen the extent to which the upper surface may rotate in circular or side-to-side manner.

FIGS. 10-12 illustrate a third embodiment of the physical motion device 100. In this embodiment, the upper surface 10 and lower surface 20 are the same as shown in the first two embodiments. The fulcrum 30 is similar to a ball joint wherein a bearing stud 31 is enclosed in a casing 33 that is affixed to the bottom surface 20 using conventional means such as, for example, threaded fasteners. The bearing stud 31 connects to a control arm 35 that extends out of the casing and connects to the upper surface 10 using conventional means, such as, for example, a threaded fastener. This configurations allows for 360 degrees of rotational motion in both the vertical and horizontal planes.

There may not be an elastic tension support member 40 in this embodiment as in the first two, rather the tension is provided by placing the bearing stud 31 in the casing 33 with a sufficiently tight fit to provide resistance in movement that is similar to the resistance provided by the tension support members shown in the first two embodiments. Additional tension support members, such as those shown in the second embodiment, may be added to provide a user with additional resistance.

Also shown in this embodiment is a support barrier 60 that is affixed to the lower surface 20. The support barrier has two primary functions: first, it lessens the likelihood that a user's hand or fingers will come into contact with the fulcrum 30; second it limits the motion of the upper surface 10 relative to the lower surface 20 so that a user is unable to tilt too far in any one direction. While the support barrier 60 is particularly advantageous for the second embodiment it may also be used with the first embodiment. In the embodiment shown, the support barrier is made of a firm material having sufficient rigidity so as to prevent the upper surface 10 as it tilts towards the bottom surface and ultimately prevent the upper surface 10 from impacting the lower surface 20.

It is understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention. Variations in the construction of the physical motion device may be contemplated by one skilled in the art without limiting the intended scope of the invention herein disclosed and as defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A physical motion device comprising: an upper surface, a lower surface and a fulcrum, the upper surface secured against a top side of a fulcrum and the lower surface being secured to a bottom side of a fulcrum, the fulcrum being positioned approximately near a mid-point on the lower surface and a mid-point on the upper surface; one or more tension support members connected to the upper surface and lower surface; wherein as a user sits on the upper surface the upper surface tilts in the vertical plane as the user's position changes and/or the user's weight shifts.
 2. The physical motion device of claim 1, wherein the upper surface is rotatable in the horizontal plane.
 3. The physical motion device of claim 2, wherein the fulcrum is a rigid member having a rounded top, the upper surface being secured against the rounded top in a manner that allows the upper surface to tilt in all directions.
 4. The physical motion device of claim 3, wherein the tension support member extends through the fulcrum.
 5. The physical motion device of claim 4, wherein the fulcrum has a flat lower surface that is fixedly attached to the lower surface.
 6. The physical motion device of claim 4, wherein the fulcrum is spherical.
 7. The physical motion device of claim 5, wherein the fulcrum includes a support base and a rounded member.
 8. The physical motion device of claim 2, wherein the fulcrum has a solid core.
 9. The physical motion device of claim 6, further including a second tension support member and a third tension support member, the second tension member and the third tension member each affixed to the lower surface in a first position and a second position and secured to the upper surface at a third position, the first and second tension support members generally forming the shape of a “V”.
 10. The physical motion device of claim 1, wherein the fulcrum is a bearing stud and the tension support member is a casing that encloses the bearing stud, the casing affixed to the lower surface and a top end of the bearing stud affixed to the upper surface. 